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Hawkins Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record second-quarter revenue and gross profit: The company reported record second quarter results for revenue, gross profit, operating income and adjusted EBITDA. Revenue was $280.4 million and gross profit $67.6 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell on acquisition costs: Diluted EPS was $1.08 against $1.16 a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to higher amortization and interest from acquisitions, and said pro forma EPS was 5% higher. Source
  • Water Treatment sales rose 21%: Water Treatment sales reached $150.9 million. The company attributed $23 million of the increase to acquired businesses, with higher organic volumes and improved pricing on certain products also contributing. Source
  • SG&A rose 27% on acquisition costs: SG&A rose $7.2 million to $33.7 million, or 12% of sales. Management attributed $5.6 million to the acquired Water Treatment business, including $2.5 million of intangible amortization. Source
  • Food and Health Sciences guidance lowered: Management expects Food and Health Sciences to be flat to down in the second half, citing tougher prior-year comparisons and competitive pressure in the food space. Source
  • Debt reduced by $20 million: Management said strong cash flow allowed a $20 million debt reduction in the quarter. Total debt was $279.0 million, and leverage was 1.53x trailing 12-month pro forma adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • WaterSurplus adds $17 million expense: Management expects $17 million of annualized fiscal 2026 expense from the acquisition, covering amortization, earn-out accretion and interest. Source

“Our second quarter results were highlighted by all three segments growing for the second consecutive quarter.”

Patrick H. Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Effective income tax rate SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately 26-27%Kept
WaterSurplus acquisition expense SourceFiscal 2026$17 million annualizedNew
Food and Health Sciences segment SourceSecond half of fiscal 2026flat to downLowered from continue to grow profitability for fiscal 2026

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Second-half expectation for Food and Health Sciences moved from growth in profitability to flat to down sales. The first quarter had said all three segments would grow profitability in fiscal 2026. Source
  • New guidance: Management gave a figure for expense tied to the WaterSurplus acquisition for fiscal 2026, which the first quarter did not quantify. Source
  • New: Cash dividend declared per share rose to $0.19 in the quarter from $0.18 in the first quarter and in the prior-year quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record second-quarter revenue and gross profit: The company reported record second quarter results for revenue, gross profit, operating income and adjusted EBITDA. Revenue was $280.4 million and gross profit $67.6 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell on acquisition costs: Diluted EPS was $1.08 against $1.16 a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to higher amortization and interest from acquisitions, and said pro forma EPS was 5% higher. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 9%: Adjusted EBITDA reached $50.4 million, up from $46.3 million. Trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA now exceeds $178 million. Source
  • Revenue growth reached 14%: Sales rose $33.4 million to $280.4 million. Each segment contributed to growth, with Water Treatment and Industrial Solutions each reporting double-digit increases. Source

Segment results

  • Water Treatment sales rose 21%: Water Treatment sales reached $150.9 million. The company attributed $23 million of the increase to acquired businesses, with higher organic volumes and improved pricing on certain products also contributing. Source
  • Industrial Solutions sales rose 11%: Industrial Solutions sales reached $56.6 million, with higher volumes of manufactured, blended and repackaged products driving the increase. Source
  • Food and Health Sciences sales rose 2%: Food and Health Sciences sales reached $72.9 million, helped by agricultural products and health and nutrition products. Source
  • All three segments grew again: Management said all three segments grew for the second consecutive quarter, led by Water Treatment. Source

“We continue to generate strong cash flow, which allowed us to reduce our debt level by $20 million during the quarter.”

Patrick H. Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer and President

Gross margin and pricing

  • Consolidated gross margin held at 24%: Gross profit was 24% of sales, the same as a year earlier. A year-end LIFO reserve increase reduced gross profit by $0.3 million. Source
  • Water Treatment margin held at 29%: Water Treatment gross profit rose to $43.3 million, the same 29% of sales as a year earlier, on acquired and organic sales growth. Source
  • Food and Health Sciences prices fell: Food and Health Sciences gross profit fell 4% to $15.5 million, or 21% of sales from 22%, as selling prices declined under competitive pricing pressure. Source

Operating costs and tax

  • SG&A rose 27% on acquisition costs: SG&A rose $7.2 million to $33.7 million, or 12% of sales. Management attributed $5.6 million to the acquired Water Treatment business, including $2.5 million of intangible amortization. Source
  • Variable pay and personnel costs rose: Other variable costs also increased, including variable pay and other personnel costs, adding to the rise in SG&A. Source
  • Effective tax rate unchanged at 27%: The effective tax rate was 27% in both the quarter and the prior-year period. The rate is affected by projected annual taxable income, permanent items and state taxes. Source

“The integration is going well and currently we see even more high-margin sales opportunities than we expected when we closed the deal.”

Patrick H. Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer and President

Demand and second-half expectations

  • Food and Health Sciences guidance lowered: Management expects Food and Health Sciences to be flat to down in the second half, citing tougher prior-year comparisons and competitive pressure in the food space. Source
  • Water Treatment and Industrial Solutions to grow: Management expects Water Treatment and Industrial Solutions to grow in the second half of the fiscal year. Source
  • More high-margin sales prospects seen: Management said it sees more high-margin sales prospects in the acquired business than it expected when the deal closed, and that integration is going well. Source

Capital, cash and debt

  • Debt reduced by $20 million: Management said strong cash flow allowed a $20 million debt reduction in the quarter. Total debt was $279.0 million, and leverage was 1.53x trailing 12-month pro forma adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Working capital up $17 million: Working capital was $17 million above the fiscal 2025 year-end, mainly from higher inventories and lower accounts payable. Source
  • Dividend declared rose to $0.19: Cash dividends declared per share were $0.19 in the quarter and $0.37 for the six months, against $0.18 and $0.34 a year earlier. Source

Acquisition and strategy

  • WaterSurplus adds $17 million expense: Management expects $17 million of annualized fiscal 2026 expense from the acquisition, covering amortization, earn-out accretion and interest. Source
  • Integration progressing, strategy unchanged: Management reiterated its strategy of investing in higher-margin businesses and acquiring companies accretive to Hawkins, while serving customers. Source
  • Accretion expected in fiscal 2027: Management expects the acquisition to be accretive in fiscal 2027 as the business ramps. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Food and Health Sciences faces tougher prior-year comparisons and competitive pressure in the food space. Source
  • Financial: Amortization and interest from acquisitions reduced diluted EPS in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: A year-end LIFO reserve increase, tied to projected commodity volumes and costs, reduced gross profit. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: First-quarter statement on segment profitability for fiscal 2026. The second quarter expects Food and Health Sciences to be flat to down in the second half.
  • Not stated: Management said it will keep investing in higher-margin businesses and acquiring companies accretive to Hawkins. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.